BIT

Bitter Taste Aversion

Detects and evokes aversive response to alkaloid or other toxic or biologically active substances on the tongue.


Class:

I - Natural Selection

Neurolocalization:

T2R taste buds; cranial nerves VII, IX, X; NTS in medulla; VPM thalamus; gustatory cortex (insula/operculum); amygdala & hypothalamus

Neurochem Substrates:

Serotonin (5-HT); GABA; glutamate; norepinephrine; dopamine; endogenous opioids

Elicitors:

Presence of alkaloid or other toxic/bioactive substances on tongue

Outputs:

Salivation; gustatory revulsion

EPA Total Score: 28/100

Theoretical evidence consists of scientific theories from the evolutionary behavioral and biological sciences (or allied fields), discussion of theoretical selection pressures that may have shaped the EPA, and other theoretical arguments without empirical data. Game theory and computer/AI models also count as theoretical evidence. Well-supported EPAs should appear specially designed by evolution to solve specific adaptive problems throughout human history and could not have simply arisen by chance.

Theoretical Subscore: 10/60

Psychological evidence consists of empirical evidence drawn from the human behavioral sciences and consists of data from developmental, behavioral, perceptual, emotional, and cognitive studies, including surveys, experiments, quasi-experiments, and observational data. Well-supported EPAs should show reliable emotional, cognitive, behavioral, or perceptual outcomes under specified conditions.

Psychological Subscore: 0/60

Medical evidence consists of evidence drawn from clinical data, observations, and case studies from disciplines including medicine, clinical psychology, and neuropsychology. Data on mental health, psychiatric disorders, neurological syndromes, epidemiology, physical health and mortality, and nutrition/exercise are all considered medical evidence.

There is currently no submitted Medical evidence to support or challenge the existence of this EPA.

Curators can click here to add some.

Medical Subscore: 0/60

Physiological evidence consists of data pertaining to neuroanatomy, biochemistry, morphology, and other studies of human physiology or brain–behavior relationships. Physiological evidence supportive of EPAs includes neural structures, pathways, neurotransmitters, and so on.

Physiological Subscore: 10/60

Cross-cultural evidence consists of anthropological and ethnological data, psychological studies on human universals, and other evidence that compares or contrasts the EPA across different human cultures. Well-supported EPAs should be observable across cultures or vary predictably across cultures based on systematic differences consistent with theory.

There is currently no submitted Cross-Cultural evidence to support or challenge the existence of this EPA.

Curators can click here to add some.

Cross-Cultural Subscore: 0/60

Genetic evidence consists of data from behavioral/population genetics, molecular genetics, gene mapping studies, gene manipulation studies, and so on. Well-supported EPAs may show a genetic basis.

Shi, P., Zhang, J., Yang, H., & Zhang, Y. P. (2003). Adaptive diversification of bitter taste receptor genes in mammalian evolution. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 20(5), 805-814.

Support score: 10 /100

Challenge score: 0 /100

Submitted by: DJGlass

Chandrashekar, J., Mueller, K. L., Hoon, M. A., Adler, E., Feng, L., Guo, W., . . . Ryba, N. J. (2000). T2Rs function as bitter taste receptors. Cell, 100, 703-711.

Support score: 10 /100

Challenge score: 0 /100

Submitted by: DJGlass

Conte, C., Ebeling, M., Marcuz, A., Nef, P., & Andres-Barquin, P. J. (2003). Identification and characterization of human taste receptor genes belonging to the TAS2R family. Cytogenetic and Genome Research, 98(1), 45-53.

Support score: 10 /100

Challenge score: 0 /100

Submitted by: DJGlass

Shi, P., & Zhang, J., Yang, H., & Zhang, Y. (2003). Adaptive diversification of bitter taste receptor genes in mammalian evolution. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 20(5), 805-814.

Support score: 45 /100

Challenge score: 0 /100

Submitted by: DJGlass

Kim, U. K., & Drayna, D. (2005). Genetics of individual differences in bitter taste perception: lessons from the PTC gene. Clinical genetics, 67(4), 275-280.

Support score: 60 /100

Challenge score: 0 /100

Submitted by: DJGlass

Genetic Subscore: 60/60

Phylogenetic evidence consists of comparative data from nonhuman species, both in the lab and in nature. Data from paleontology, cladistics, ethology, and comparative psychology are all phylogenetic evidence, especially if they show “related” traits in nonhuman species.

Shi, P., Zhang, J., Yang, H., & Zhang, Y. P. (2003). Adaptive diversification of bitter taste receptor genes in mammalian evolution. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 20(5), 805-814.

Support score: 10 /100

Challenge score: 0 /100

Submitted by: DJGlass

Chandrashekar, J., Mueller, K. L., Hoon, M. A., Adler, E., Feng, L., Guo, W., . . . Ryba, N. J. (2000). T2Rs function as bitter taste receptors. Cell, 100, 703-711.

Support score: 10 /100

Challenge score: 0 /100

Submitted by: DJGlass

Fischer, A., Gilad, Y., Man, O., & Pääbo, S. (2005). Evolution of bitter taste receptors in humans and apes. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 22(3), 432-436.

Support score: 10 /100

Challenge score: 0 /100

Submitted by: DJGlass

Garcia, J. & Hankins, W. G. (1975). The evolution of bitter and the acquisition of toxiphobia. In D. A. Denton & J. P. Coghlan (Eds.), Olfaction and Taste V (pp. 39-45). New York: Academic Press.

Support score: 45 /100

Challenge score: 0 /100

Submitted by: DJGlass

Glendinning, J. I. (1994). Is the bitter rejection response always adaptive? Physiology & Behavior, 56(6), 1217-1227.

Support score: 11 /100

Challenge score: 11 /100

Submitted by: DJGlass

Glendinning, J. I., Tarre, M. & Asaoka, K. (1999). Contribution of different bitter-sensitive taste cells to feeding inhibition in a caterpillar (Manduca sexta). Behavioral Neuroscience, 113, 840-854.

Support score: 38 /100

Challenge score: 0 /100

Submitted by: DJGlass

Shi, P., & Zhang, J., Yang, H., & Zhang, Y. (2003). Adaptive diversification of bitter taste receptor genes in mammalian evolution. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 20(5), 805-814.

Support score: 48 /100

Challenge score: 0 /100

Submitted by: DJGlass

Phylogenetic Subscore: 19/60

Hunter–gatherer evidence consists of data on prehistoric, historical, or extant hunter–gatherer cultures. Evidence that hunter–gatherers shared the trait with industrialized contemporary humans is supportive of the EPA, while evidence that the trait is/was not present in hunter–gatherer societies challenges the status of the trait as an EPA.

Hunter-Gatherer Subscore: 7/60